Relationship between interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and,c-peptide in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract EN

Background: Type 1 diabetes is an immune-mediated disease leading to selective destruction of insulin-producing -cells in which cytokines play an important role.

Cytokines related to the innate immune response, such as interleukin (IL)- 1, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- are thought to be associated with -cell destruction and disease status in humans and in animal models.

Objective: This prospective case-control study was carried out to assess the association of C-peptide as a marker of -cell function with systemic cytokine IL-1ra concentration during the first 6 months after diagnosis in children with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: Thirty children with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes with a mean age of (6.5± 2.2) years and thirty age and sex matched healthy children included as controls were enrolled in this study.

Fasting and stimulated C-peptide and circulating concentration of IL-1ra were determined at time of diagnosis in the serum of patients and controls and 6 months after diagnosis in the serum of the patients only using ELISA technique.

Results: Diabetic patients showed significantly lower mean serum fasting C-peptide (0.5± 0.3) ng/mL, lower mean serum stimulated C-peptide (0.7± 0.2) ng/mL and lower mean serum IL-1ra (202.6± 55.8) pg/mL compared to control group (1.4± 0.2) ng/mL, (2.2± 0.3) ng/mL, and (235.0± 29.5) pg/mL respectively at time of presentation.

There was no statistically significant correlation between IL-1ra and fasting C-peptide or stimulated C-peptide neither at time of diagnosis nor 6 months after diagnosis (P>0.05).

Conclusion: The present study concluded there was no significant correlation between C-peptide (as a marker of -cell function) and IL-1ra (the natural antagonist IL-1) in children with recent onset type 1 diabetes.